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A Rare Hare dinner at the Rieger, plus beer-iversaries at Free State, Border Brewing Company, and Hopcat: KC food and drink events for February 19-25

Teabiotics (11415 Strange Line Road) opens its brand-new kombucha taproom today at 9 a.m., with 24 unique taps and flavors available for customers to sample or fill up their bottles to take home. Teabiotics specializes in fermented vegetables and drinks, including kombucha made with organic teas. The shop is open until 5 p.m.

Celebrate the humble rabbit tonight at the Rieger (1924 Main Street), which is offering a rabbit-centric coursed meal featuring rabbits from Rare Hare Barn in Leon, Kansas. The meal will feature rabbit charcuterie, braised rabbit cavatelli pasta served with mushrooms, and a family-style serving of rabbit paprikash and rabbit fricassee. Tickets are still available for $65 here.

Wednesday, February 21

Stout fans should head to Cinder Block Brewery (110 East 18th Street) today from 4-9 p.m. for the brewery’s Third Annual Stout Fest. Cinder Block will be serving flights of its newly released 2018 Oyster Stout, the 2017 un-oaked Nitro Black Squirrel, 2016 Bourbon Barrel-Aged Black Squirrel, and the cellared 2015 Bourbon Barrel Aged Black Squirrel. Doughnut Lounge will also be making up Black Squirrel-infused doughnuts, which will be served with the flights.

Rye Leawood (10551 Mission Road) is hosting a four-course specialty paired dinner tonight featuring Boulevard Smokestack beers and Templeton Rye pairings. For $85 (which does include tax and gratuity), sample dishes including a caramelized onion soup with braised oxtail with French bread and foie butter, and a smoked chicken with charred root vegetables with bread pudding. More information and tickets are available here.

Tequila samples and small bites will be available at El Patron (2905 Southwest Boulevard) during its ‘Taste of Tequila’ event tonight from 6:30 to 8 p.m. A welcome cocktail and appetizers will greet guests as they arrive; a variety of mezcals, tequilas and anejos will be made available during the educational tasting that follows. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased here via Eventbrite.

Friday, February 23

Kicking off a weekend of beer anniversaries, one of Lawrence’s greatest and most enduring establishments, Free State Brewing Company (636 Massachusetts Street), turns 29 years old today. Visit the brewery for specials, and if you happen to share the birthday, enjoy a discount associated with your age (if you’re 35 years old, you get 35 percent off your food purchase).

Saturday, February 24

Border Brewing Company (406 East 18th Street) is next up, celebrating its third anniversary in business today. New beer releases, specials, and giveaways will mark the day. Border Brewing Company opens at 12 p.m.

Sunday, February 25

Rounding out the birthday celebrations this weekend is the one-year anniversary of Hopcat (401 Westport Road). The first 100 customers in the door will receive Hopcat Fatcat loyalty cards, which entitle them to free fries every month for an entire year, a pint glass, and more. In addition, the brewery is offering specials on a range of local and regional beers from its cellar, including: Perennial Abraxas, Mother’s Manhattan ITBM, Torn Label Rude Awakening, Boulevard Tequila Barrel Lime Gose, Martin City/4 Hands Friendly Collusion, and many more.

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